ON SECOND DAY OF RAIDS 3500 KG PLASTIC BAGS SEIZED IN THE STATE

1150 KG CONFISCATED IN LUDHIANA

Chandigarh, June 19, 2019: Continuing with the raids to curb the usage of plastic carry bags, the joint teams of Punjab Pollution Control Board and the Department of Local Bodies conducted raids on 175 premises on Tuesday evening observing 88 cases of violation of Plastic Carry Bags (Manufacture, Usage and Disposal) Control Act, 2005, informed KS Pannu, Director Tandrust Punjab Mission.

The teams seized 3500 kg plastic carry bags on second day of raids while 4000 kg bags were seized in the raids conducted on Saturday informed Pannu and added that 82 challans were issued and approximately Rs.50,000/- was collected as penalty on the spot. Shockingly,1150 kg plastic carry bags were seized from district Ludhiana alone.

The Mission Director said that under Tandrust Punjab Mission efforts are afoot to check the sale and use of plastic bags across the State. “It is extremely unfortunate to observe that despite law in place prohibiting manufacturing, stocking, distribution, sale and use of plastic carry bags in the State, large number of violations are being noticed”.

Appealing people to shun the usage of plastic carry bags, Pannu said that plastic carry bags pose a serious environmental hazard and their usage may be terminated by all means.

GOVERNMENT BANS PLASTIC BAGS IN JAILS; INMATES TO PREPARE PAPER CARRY BAGS
Ludhiana: In its effort to make jails plastic free zones, the Punjab Government has banned the plastic bags in all jails of the state. Now, the inmates will now prepare paper carry bags which will help to eliminate the plastic bags from the complexes but it will also enhance their skills in handiwork.

Divulging the details, Ludhiana Jail Superintendent Mr. Shamsher Singh Boparai said that the decision has been taken by Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to save the environment from the harmful impact of the plastic bags. He said that in the first phase, the paper carry bags will be used in the jails and later, will be sold out in the markets.

He told that in Ludhiana Jail, the inmates are already engaged in various works including preparing bakery products, handicrafts, and others.
He further told that through deputy commissioners all the departments have been asked to send the paper waste to jails in the future.

Mr. Boparai added that the jail department is continuously doing its best efforts to reform each person entering the jail for any crime so that when he comes out of jail, he can lead a normal life like others and does not depend upon others for the livelihood.